67: [Bonus chapter]Am I misreading you, Heaven?

[Bonus chapter]Am I misreading you, Heaven?

Dominic lay flat on his back, eyes on the ceiling. Beside him was his wife, Heaven, doing the same stance as him. There was a significant space between them, not moving a muscle from the bed, eyes stuck to the ceiling.  2

"Are you calm now?" he broke the silence after another minute but kept his gaze on the ceiling. 

"Mhm. Maybe." Heaven also didn't look away from the ceiling. 

Moments ago, she was trembling uncontrollably for many reasons. She wasn't even thinking when she threw herself at Dominic. All she had in mind was she needed to hold on to something — much better, someone. The sight of Dominic brought relief to her heart for unknown reasons. 

The intrusive thoughts the soul carried along with this second life were enough to cripple anyone. They were the things — the burden she carried on her back her whole first life. Having those unwanted parts of her life resurfacing in her head as they go out of control suffocated her. 

He was like the surface, claiming her back from the cruel ocean, where she was sinking deeper into. 

Heaven didn't even remember how she got on the bed with him. All she could remember was lying on the mattress, staring at the ceiling blankly, wondering how in the world could one murder attempt to rattle someone like her? 

"Am I growing weak?" she murmured, not caring if Dominic would hear or ignore her. "How can I tremble with something so… petty?"

Dominic slowly turned his head to her, only to see his wife's unchanging side profile. "Should I arrange an appointment with the specialist I know?"

"You mean a psychiatrist?"

"I don't mean to offend." He kept his gaze on her side profile. "Therapies will be helpful if you are willing. It doesn't mean you're crazy — if you think so, then consider me insane."

Heaven slowly faced him squarely. "Have you…?"

"Mhm."

"Was it because of me?"

Dominic didn't answer immediately, looking away from her as he set his eyes back on the ceiling. "Not entirely. Our marriage is one factor, though."

"That's surprising." Heaven breathed out, peeling her eyes from him. "I didn't know you'd needed therapies."

"The CEO and the chairman's health were confidential information. Whatever health issues we're going through, we must keep it a secret."

"I didn't know that, but then again, I didn't care about anything. So, it really isn't surprising." Heaven didn't show any negativity with this new information. If anything, she admired him for telling her something that might be considered his weakness. 

Heaven understood his point regarding keeping their health issues a top secret. Any leader's health issues were always kept a secret — even her condition was kept by the members of the organization. Because if others heard about this, problems would arise. 

In a business sense, it would affect the company's market price and the sort. But in her situation back then, her enemies would not hesitate to take advantage of it to bring her and the organization down. She offended many people, after all. All those people were individuals even a politician in a high position would be scared of. 

"It's fine. It's just one of those days, I guess," she answered his offer after a moment of silence. "I'll just need a little rest."

"My offer will always be valid. Also, don't force yourself too much." Dominic pressed his lips into a thin line. "You don't have to try too much to please Basti —"

"I'm not forcing myself." Heaven looked at him once again. "This had nothing to do with him."

Technically, it had everything to do with Sebastian. He was the very reason that Heaven felt this type of fear she had never felt before for the first time. The fact that she now had a son to protect scared her because the only way she knew how to protect herself and others was… the bloody way.

  "Dominic Zhu," she called, staring into his eyes solemnly. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Just ask."

"Do you trust everyone in the household?"

Deep lines appeared between his brows, confused. Yet, he still answered, "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because we screened every single one of them before getting employed." His answer was quick, giving her the answer despite his bafflement at her question. "Mr. Zhang helped me pick every single servant in here. Miriam and Mrs. Deng helped out to observe them. Moreover, some of them originally worked in the old residence."

"Is that so?"

"Why?" Dominic quickly followed up. "I answered your question truthfully. I suppose I deserve to raise a question now."

"Fair enough."

"Then, if you agree, answer me. Why did you ask such a… strange question?"

"Because I trust no one in this household." An answer was what he wanted, then she would give him her part of the truth. "Except Basti and you, I don't trust the rest."

"Even Miriam?" he furrowed his brows even more.

"Even her."

"Why?"

'Because someone strangled your wife to death in this very home,'was what she wanted to say, but secretly bit her tongue. 

"I just don't," she shrugged, rolling her body to lie on her side. "The feeling is mutual, anyway. No one in this house trusts me and my intentions toward my husband and son."

"I trust you — I'm trying to."

"I know that." Her lips curled up into a subtle smile. "And I appreciate you for trying."

There was a moment of silence that befell them while staring into each other's eyes. They both studied each other's countenance, making each other wonder what was going on in their heads. 

"Heaven Liu, you are giving me mixed signals." Dominic crushed the silence with his slightly husky voice in a much lower tone. "I'm confused. I don't know if the reaction I think you want from me is the same as what you think."

"What… reaction?" she trailed off as her pupils dilated.

Dominic suddenly rolled to his side, only to prop his elbow against the mattress. In a blink of an eye, his upper body hovered over her, planting his other arm near the side of her head.

"This," he whispered, almost pressing his chest against hers. "Am I misreading you, Heaven?"

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